Morning news headlines for January 21, 2014.

Blue Ivy attended Michelle Obama's 50th birthday party and played with Sunny Obama—and her mom snapped a pic for her Tumblr. If Beyoncé weren't Beyoncé, she'd just be annoying mom bragging about what her kid did on social media.

Alison Sweeney has announced that she's leaving Days of Our Lives after 21 years on the show. Us Weekly

Must-read

Before 12-year-old Taylor Smith passed away, she wrote a sweet and aspirational letter to her 22-year-old self. Her parents decided to post it online to help others through the grieving process. People

Upselling

Watch out for these clever (and not-so-clever) tricks companies use to trick you into thinking you're buying a premium product. They even use noise; per the WSJ, "The small sounds consumer products make—whether a snap, click, rustle or pop—can be memorable and deeply satisfying, often suggesting luxury, freshness, effectiveness or security. Time